Next Stop: (A Graphic Novel)

Pia and her father are supposed to embark on a road trip to see Cessarine Lake, a lake touted to make people’s wishes come true. However, amidst some ongoing problems at home, Pia is off on a summer bus tour alone without her father. While on the tour to some oddball sites, Pia meets Sam and a group of kind, but wacky tour mates, who want to see the mystery lake for their own reasons. Will Pia find what she is looking for at the lake?

This was a fun and heartbreaking read all at the same time. I just wanted to keep reading to find out what was going on with Pia and her family. All the characters were very lovable, especially Pia and Auntie Ming. You just want to give Pia a big hug. And I love Auntie Ming’s fanny pack stashed full of snacks. I really enjoyed the illustrations, and I loved that the author included bonus pages about the inspiration behind the story, the character designs, the thumbnails, and the flats. I highly recommend this graphic novel to not just middle-grade readers (the intended audience), but anyone who loves a wonderful and heart-wrenching story.